Holy Orders

“Holy Orders is the sacrament through which the mission entrusted by Christ to his apostles continues to be exercised in the Church until the end of time; thus it is the sacrament of apostolic ministry. It includes three degrees: episcopate <bishops>, presbyterate <priests> and diaconate <deacons> (Catechism of the Catholic Church, 1536)

The essential rite of this sacrament for all three degrees consists in the bishop’s imposition of hands on the head of the ordained and his specific consecratory prayer asking God for the outpouring of the Holy Spirit and his gifts proper to the ministry to which the candidate is being ordained. It is desirable that the ceremony take place within the Eucharistic liturgy and that as many of the faithful as possible take part.

If you are discerning the priesthood, please visit the vocations website www.vocationstoronto.ca or contact the parish office at (416) 247-0513.